buffalo sabres · 12/12/2017 · had better get their stuff together. kyle okposo used a stronger...
TRANSCRIPT
Buffalo Sabres
Daily Press Clips
December 5, 2017
Sabres place Moulson on waivers; acquire Wilson from Wings
Associated Press
By JOHN WAWROW
Dec. 4, 2017
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The shake-up is starting in Buffalo, where Sabres general manager Jason Botterill began making
moves in a bid to improve a vastly underperforming team on Monday.
High-priced and little-used veteran forward Matt Moulson was waived for the purpose of being demoted to the minors. And
Botterill pulled off a trade by acquiring forward Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red Wings to add a role player with Stanley
Cup-winning experience to his roster. In exchange, the Red Wings acquired Buffalo’s fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft for
Wilson.
Moulson’s demotion, though not surprising, provided a jolt to a team in the midst of a 1-9-2 slump that’s dropped the Sabres
into last place in the overall standings. Buffalo’s offense has all but evaporated after being shutout in a franchise-worst three
consecutive games before finally scoring in a 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
“With the position we’re in, we’ve got to make some difficult decisions about our team and our lineup,” coach Phil Housley
told reporters before the team traveled to Colorado for a game on Tuesday.
Should Moulson clear waivers on Tuesday, he’ll be assigned to Buffalo’s American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester.
The 34-year-old Moulson has no points in 14 games and has been a healthy scratch in seven of past nine outings.
He’s an 11-year veteran who is in the fourth year of a $25 million contract. The demotion leaves Moulson’s long-term future
with the Sabres uncertain, though he’s due to make $5 million next season.
Moulson’s departure caught several Sabres by surprise, including star center Jack Eichel, who roomed with the player and his
family during his rookie season two years ago.
“I think more than anything, obviously, we’re not in a good spot as a team with where we are,” Eichel said of the message the
move sent. “You obviously never want to see something to happen to somebody you’re so close to, but at the end of the day
it’s a business and you never know what’s going to happen.”
Moulson has 46 goals and 123 points in 297 games during two separate stints with the Sabres over the past four-plus seasons.
His most productive seasons came during a five-year stretch with the New York Islanders, in which he had 118 goals and 223
points in 304 games.
Wilson is no stranger to Botterill, who was the Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager before being hired by the
Sabres in May. Wilson was drafted by Pittsburgh in 2011 and played parts of four seasons with the Penguins before being
dealt to Detroit in October.
He has no points in 20 games this season and 13 goals and 32 points in 123 career NHL games. Wilson did have three goals
and six points in 20 playoff games in helping the Penguins win their second consecutive Stanley Cup last season.
“As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice,” Botterill said.
In a separate move, Buffalo also promoted forward Evan Rodrigues from Rochester and demoted forward Kyle Criscuolo.
Rodrigues is a speedy playmaker who missed the start of the season because of a hand injury. He’s scored five goals and 10
points in eight games with Rochester since being cleared to play.
Much-needed shake-up underway for Sabres, starting with Moulson
The Buffalo News
By John Vogl
December 4, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres don't want their friendships torn apart.
They should have played better and harder then.
A much-needed shake-up is underway in Buffalo. General Manager Jason Botterill has seen enough of his cellar dwellers.
Botterill waived Matt Moulson and acquired a piece of his past Monday, trading for forward Scott Wilson.
It's just the start for a team that is a pitiful 6-17-4 heading into Tuesday's game in Colorado.
"When you don't win they're going to dismantle," center Ryan O'Reilly said in KeyBank Center. "I've seen it before. It's
frustrating. It's tough. There's so many good guys here that we have great relationships with, and when you don't win changes
are made. That's how it goes."
On their own, Monday's moves won't turn the Sabres into Stanley Cup contenders. But they send a message that the players
had better get their stuff together. Kyle Okposo used a stronger word than stuff, though it started with the same letter.
"We've got to win some games," said Okposo, who quickly turned from somber over losing Moulson to angry over Buffalo's
plight. "If you don't win games, if you don't have results, good people pay the price for it."
It would seem the only players safe from trade chatter are Okposo, who has a no-movement clause, and franchise center Jack
Eichel. Everyone else should be worried until Buffalo assembles a roster that can win.
"It's on us," O'Reilly said. "We've got to start doing it for guys' careers, start winning just to keep this group together."
Botterill and coach Phil Housley decided Moulson was no longer a fit for the group. The forward failed to produce a point in
14 games and was scratched in 13 others.
"We talked quite a bit throughout the last two weeks," Housley said. "Just the direction that our team's going, we have to
make roster spots and try to push some other buttons and try to get some internal competition within our team."
Deposed GM Tim Murray signed Moulson to a five-year, $25 million contract in July 2014. The contract runs through the
end of next season, though the Sabres can buy out Moulson in June.
Inside the Sabres: Moulson, Leino duke it out for title of worst contract
Moulson was a three-time 30-goal scorer with the New York Islanders earlier in his career, but the 34-year-old has seen his
numbers plummet. He scored 13, eight and 14 goals during the last three seasons. He has 13 shots and a minus-9 rating while
skating 10:17 per game this year.
If no team claims Moulson by noon Tuesday, the Sabres will assign him to Rochester. A claim seems unlikely considering a
TSN report that said Buffalo was willing to retain part of Moulson's salary in a trade but found no takers.
The Sabres do not have salary cap problems, but they will receive $1.025 million in cap relief with the demotion. The 2013
collective bargaining agreement changed the rules regarding contracts buried in the minor leagues, so Moulson will still
count $3.975 million toward the Sabres' cap even in Rochester.
"It's tough when you lose a guy like that," Okposo said. "He's been my best friend for a while. He means a lot to me. It's
tough news, but at the same time it's a business. He knows that better than anybody.
"In saying that, it's tough personally, for sure."
Okposo and Moulson formed a bond while playing for the Islanders, and they're godfathers to each other's children.
"You could go around and ask every single guy in this locker room, and they don't have one bad thing to say about Matt
Moulson and the way he is as a person and the way that he carried himself at the rink every day through a really tough
situation over the past few years," Okposo said. "He's just a good man."
Eichel lived with Moulson throughout his rookie season.
"It's tough," Eichel said. "He's a good buddy. I owe a lot to him. He's been there for me since the day I was drafted. I've
obviously become very close with Matt and his family. His wife and his two kids have basically been like family to me.
"I feel for him. He's one of the best guys that you can play with. I don't think that there's a bad word to be said about him."
There are plenty of bad words to be said about the Sabres, who are 1-9-2 in the last 12 games.
"We're in a business of winning, and we're not doing that right now, so there's going to be some changes," Okposo said.
"Unfortunately, it was that, but we've got to figure out a way to win hockey games."
Sabres Prospects: Cliff Pu finds his scoring groove
The Sabres could have two new faces in the lineup against the Avalanche. Buffalo recalled center Evan Rodrigues before
Monday's practice and traded for Wilson after boarding the plane. The 25-year-old arrived from Detroit in exchange for a
fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Wilson has played parts of four seasons in the NHL, recording 13 goals and 32 points in 123 games. The forward played 20
playoff games during Pittsburgh's successful Stanley Cup run last season, putting up three goals and three assists. Botterill
was with Pittsburgh when it drafted Wilson in the seventh round in 2011.
There's no way Wilson will be Botterill's final roster move.
"There's so many good guys in this dressing room that you don't want to see any of them leave," O'Reilly said. "If we don't
win, it's going to happen."
Sabres Notebook: Rodrigues recalled; Wilson acquired from Wings; Beaulieu ill
The Buffalo News
By John Vogl
December 4, 2017
The players who practiced on the Buffalo Sabres' third and fourth lines Monday have combined for just 12 goals and 20
assists in 127 games. It's no wonder Buffalo is shaking things up.
The Sabres have recalled Evan Rodrigues and acquired Scott Wilson via trade, moves they hope will increase the production
and tenacity among the bottom six forwards.
"I'm going to go out and work as hard as I can to start, and then from there I'll just let my talent work itself out," Rodrigues
said Monday. "Just add some pace, add some work ethic, be hard on pucks and when the opportunity comes to showcase my
offensive ability, I'll do that."
Rodrigues certainly earned the promotion from Rochester. He had five goals and 10 points in eight games with the Amerks,
including three goals and an assist in the last two.
The 24-year-old was pushing to start the season in Buffalo before suffering a hand injury during the preseason. He returned
to the ice Nov. 17.
"I knew once I got hurt I'd probably go down to Rochester," Rodrigues said in KeyBank Center. "I did everything I could to
get back up here. I'm ecstatic to be back."
To make room for Rodrigues, the Sabres sent center Kyle Criscuolo to Rochester.
During practice, Rodrigues centered for left wing Jordan Nolan (two goals, two assists) and right wing Kyle Okposo (three
goals, eight assists). The fourth line featured center Johan Larsson (one goal, three assists), left wing Zemgus Girgensons
(one goal, two assists) and right wing Sam Reinhart (five goals, five assists).
The last line will change with the arrival of Wilson from Detroit. Larsson has no goals and one assist in the last 16 games.
Girgensons has nothing to show for his last 19. One will likely take a seat if Wilson makes it to Colorado in time for
Tuesday's game against the Avalanche.
General Manager Jason Botterill sought someone he knows after watching the Sabres' holdovers fail to impress. Botterill was
with Pittsburgh when the Penguins drafted Wilson in the seventh round in 2011, and the forward played parts of the last four
seasons with the Penguins.
Scott Wilson helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup in June. (Getty Images)
"We are very happy to add Scott to our roster," said Botterill, who gave the Red Wings a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL
Draft. "Scott is a hard-working, young player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, his
experience will be an asset both on and off the ice."
Wilson had eight goals and 26 points in 78 games for Pittsburgh last season, then added three goals and six points in 20
playoff games as the Penguins won the Cup.
The 25-year-old played three games for Pittsburgh this season before being traded to Detroit in a deal that featured Riley
Sheahan heading to the Pens. Wilson has no points in 20 games this year. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder has 13 goals and 32
points in 123 career games.
* * *
Phil Housley can't stop games whenever Buffalo makes a mistake, but the coach can blow plays dead during practice. He did
it yet again Monday, summoning the players to center ice for a one-sided talk after a sloppy start.
"The position we're in, we should have a total commitment to our team game, our practices if we're going to move forward
here," Housley said. "I just thought the execution was off."
Much-needed shake-up underway for Sabres, starting with Moulson
The halting of practice has become common during Buffalo's 6-17-4 start to the season.
"We were doing a warm-up drill basically and just not putting the puck on the tape, missing passes," Okposo said. "We've
just got to execute. That’s what happens in a game. It's little things, but they can't go on any longer."
* * *
Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was absent with an illness and wasn't expected to fly with the team to Colorado. He left
midway through Saturday's 5-1 loss to Pittsburgh.
"I don't believe he'll be on the team plane just to be cautious about the illness," Housley said.
* * *
Sabres prospects Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Vojtech Budik are one step closer to returning to Buffalo. They've been invited
to world junior training camps.
Luukkonen was one of three goaltenders to make Finland's list. Budik will attend Czech Republic's camp.
Buffalo selected Luukkonen in the second round of this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old is playing in Finland's second
league and has a .911 save percentage in 15 games played.
The Sabres picked Budik in the fifth round in 2016. The defenseman has five assists and six points in 27 games for Prince
Albert of the Western Hockey League.
The world juniors will be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Buffalo.
Sabres Prospects: Cliff Pu finds his scoring groove
The Buffalo News
By Amy Moritz
December 4, 2017
Cliff Pu understands how it looks. The start to his season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League was, well,
disappointing. At least from a production standpoint.
Coming off a season where he ranked top-10 in the league in scoring, he scored just one goal with five assists in his first 11
games.
Then he signed his entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres, a standard three-year deal that many players sign during their
final year of major-junior hockey in Canada.
His numbers soared after that. Pu had a three-point night (one goal, two assists) in the next game. In November, he scored
nine goals with 14 assists in 10 games.
Clearly signing the contract, solidifying the next step in his hockey career, took some weight off his shoulders, right?
"It just happened around the same time," Pu said. "People can look at it and say I got boost from that but I honestly don't
think that was the case. Obviously I was happy to sign but I don't think that had anything to do with my play early on in the
year. It's just a funny coincidence."
For Pu, the turnaround came through good old-fashioned hard work and believing the bounces would start coming his way.
"I just think I was trying to figure things out," Pu said. "I was bit frustrated but I kept working hard. The bounces started
coming my way the last month and I'm playing with good players. I kept working hard on things I need to, like shooting, and
it started kicking in slowly. Sooner or later I would get more numbers. I always trusted myself."
Pu is focused on his team in London, but he's waiting to hear if he makes the preliminary roster for Team Canada for the
2018 IIHF World Junior Men's Championship. The selection camp is scheduled for Dec. 12-15 at the Meridian Centre in St.
Catharines, Ont. Pu was part of the Canadian team that participated in the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth,
Mich.
"The summer showcase was fun for me," Pu said. "I got to play with a lot of players from across the CHL. It's fun to go up
against the best players around the world and it definitely helps your game when you play against a higher level of
competition. I tried to keep those habits – my feet moving and stuff like that. I learned a lot.
"It would be a huge opportunity," Pu said of playing for Canada in the World Junior tournament. "I'll work as hard as I can to
make that team and if I get the opportunity, it will be a blessing. But if I don't, I'll just keep working hard in London."
Rochester Americans: The Amerks kicked off a four-game, eight-day road swing with a 5-2 win over the Wilkes-
Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday. C.J. Smith leads the team with 22 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 21 games. Evan
Rodrigues earned a call-up to the Sabres after his hot start with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in six games in his return
from a preseason hand injury. Linus Ullmark picked up his 10th win and is 7-0-2 in his last nine starts.
The Amerks play a three-in-three this weekend, starting at the Springville Thunderbirds (Dec. 8), at the Hartford Wolf Pack
(Dec. 9), and at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Dec. 10). They return to Blue Cross Arena on Dec. 13 to host Utica.
WHL
Vojtech Budik (defense, Prince Albert Raiders): Picked up his fifth assist in a 5-3 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Dec. 1. It
was his first point since Nov. 3. On the season he has one goal and five assists.
Brandon Hagel (forward, Red Deer Rebels): Suffered an upper body injury in a 4-2 loss to the Regina Pats on Dec. 1 and
reportedly is on a week-to-week status. Hagel has seven goals and 16 points in 27 games while Red Deer is winless in its last
nine games.
OHL
Austin Osmanski (defense, Peterborough Petes): The East Aurora native has one goal and 10 assists through 26 games. He is
a minus-1, has 34 penalty minutes and 46 shots on goal.
QMJHL
Vasily Glotov (forward, Shawinigan Cataractes): Has three goals in his last three games, including a two-goal effort in a 6-4
loss to Rimouski Oceanic on Dec. 2. For the season he has 12 goals and five assists in 26 games.
NCAA
William Borgen (defense, St. Cloud State): The junior has one goal and seven assists on the season. The Huskies are 11-2-0
overall after a weekend sweep of Nebraska-Omaha.
Christopher Brown (forward, Boston College): Had one assist in a 5-1 win over Boston University on Dec. 2, as Boston
College split its weekend with its fiercest rival. This season he has four goals and five assists.
Jacob Bryson (defense, Providence): The sophomore had two assists in a 5-2 win over New Hampshire on Dec. 1. In 16
games, he has one goal and 11 assists.
Ivan Chukarov (defense, UMass): On a two-game point streak with assists in his last two appearances. He missed the first
month of the season with an upper body injury.
Casey Fitzgerald (defense, Boston College): Has three goals and six assists as Boston College is 9-6-2 overall.
Connor Hurley (forward, Minnesota): After three seasons at Notre Dame, Hurley transferred to the University of Minnesota.
He will sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules and have one year of college eligibility left for the 2018-19 season. In 98
career games for the Fighting Irish, Hurley had 48 points (14 goals, 34 assists).
Casey Mittelstadt (forward, Minnesota): The Sabres first-round pick in 2017 scored his fifth goal of the season in a 3-2 loss
to Wisconsin on Dec. 2. On a three-game point streak he has five goals and 10 assists in his first 17 collegiate games.
Brett Murray (forward, Penn State): The sophomore has one goal and four assists in 16 games.
Philip Nyberg (defense, UConn): Has two goals and one assist in nine games. Did not play in the Huskies' 4-2 loss to UMass
on Dec. 1.
Judd Peterson (forward, St. Cloud State): The senior picked up his ninth assist of the season in a 7-4 win over Nebraska-
Omaha on Dec. 1. He has 10 points in 13 games.
Linus Weissbach (forward, Wisconsin): Suffered what appeared to be a head injury in the second period of a 5-4 loss on Dec.
1 to Minnesota. He picked up an assist in that game to extend his point streak to five games. A native of Sweden, the 19-year-
old freshman had five goals and eight assists in 16 games.
Maxwell Willman (forward, Brown): The senior has one goal and four assists in nine games as Brown is 5-6-0.
Europe
Rasmus Asplund (forward, Farjestad BK): In 25 games in the SHL, he has four goals and 11 assists.
Marcus Davidsson (forward, Djurgardens): Has one goal and seven assists in 21 games in the Swedish Hockey League.
Oskari Laaksonen (defense, Ilves): Has three goals and eight assists in 30 games in the Under-20 league (Jr. A SM-Liiga).
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (goalie, LeKi): Was named to Finland's preliminary World Junior roster, one of three goalies to head
to camp in advance of the event in Buffalo later this month. Has a 2.93 goals against average and a .911 save percentage for
LeKi, a second-tier league in Finland.
Sabres goalie prospect selected for Finland's world juniors camp
Victor Olofsson (forward, Frolounda HC): Has 13 goals and eight assists in 22 games in the Swedish Hockey League.
Sabres goalie prospect selected for Finland's world juniors camp
The Buffalo News
By John Vogl
December 4, 2017
Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is one step closer to returning to Buffalo. Finland released the roster for its world
junior training camp today, and Luukkonen was one of three goaltenders to make the list.
Buffalo selected him in the second round of this year's NHL Draft. The 18-year-old is playing in Finland's second league and
has a .911 save percentage in 15 games played.
The Finnish camp will run Dec. 15-23, and the team will make its cuts prior to the start of the tournament Dec. 26. The world
juniors will run in Buffalo until Jan. 5.
Moulson move a message to players
Phil Housley is trying to create some internal competition
WGR550
PAUL HAMILTON
DECEMBER 04, 2017
Denver, CO (WGR 550) - With the Sabres having the worst record in the NHL, the players had to know changes would be
made. Matt Moulson was placed on waivers on Monday. Many players felt a message was being sent to the room, but Phil
Housley didn’t see it that way, “I don’t know if it’s a message, it’s a difficult decision.
“I felt just with the position we’re in, we’ve got to make some decisions on our team and sometimes they’re tough decisions.”
Josh Gorges has spent time in Montreal and San Jose before coming to Buffalo. He’s hoping things like this send a message
to the team, “I think it should be. I think everybody should take a look at that. A couple of us talked about that this morning,
it’s an eye opener for everybody because this game is about winning and winning only and unfortunately when you’re not
winning, things like this happen and guys should take note.”
Moulson is very popular in the locker room, especially with Jack Eichel and Kyle Okposo. Housley said, “I guess they can
read it the way the want it, I just find it’s tough as a coach to make a decision like that to let a good person go, but under the
circumstances that we’re in, I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of guys affected, maybe emotionally, maybe it’s
motivationally. Certainly I know Kyle was his best friend, but we have to make decisions and sometimes guys may agree or
disagree, but we have to make tough decisions.”
When Eichel arrived in Buffalo as an 18-year-old rookie, he lived with the Moulson family for the season. They have
remained good friends and Eichel was upset to see his friend have to go through this, “It’s tough, he’s a good buddy I mean I
owe a lot to him.
“He’s been there for me since the day I was drafted, so I’ve become very close with Matt and his family. His wife and two
kids have been basically like family to me, so I feel for him.”
Veteran players try to lead by example. Ted Nolan had Moulson as one of the alternate captains, but he lost the “A” when
Dan Bylsma showed up. Eichel said, “Matt was a guy that would show up to the rink every day and be a professional.
Whether it was getting on the ice early to shoot or working out, he brought a good attitude.”
Housley and Jason Botterill talk quite a lot about personnel decisions and Housley said it’s been even more lately, “We’ve
talked quite a bit throughout the last few weeks and I think just the direction that our team’s going, we have to make roster
spots and try to push some other buttons, and try to get some internal competition within our team.”
Players can never be fully prepared for things like this or trades. Eichel said, “It’s tough for me to comment on that, that’s not
really anything in my line of work. For me, it’s about playing.”
Nate Beaulieu left the game in Pittsburgh due to illness. Housley said the defenseman would not be on the plane to Denver.
On Monday, the Sabres traded for Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red Wings for a 5th round pick. Wilson, 25, spent his first
three professional seasons in the Penguins organization earning two Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh. He was traded earlier this
season from Pittsburgh to Detroit in exchange for Riley Sheahan.
Monday’s lines:
Kane - Eichel - Pominvile
Pouliot - O’Reilly - Fasching
Girgensons - Larsson - Reinhart
Nolan - Rodrigues - Okposo
Scandella - Ristolainen
McCabe - Bogosian
Gorges - Antipin (Falk)
Sabres acquire Wilson from Detroit
Wilson played under Jason Botterill in Pittsburgh
WGR550
DECEMBER 04, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres have been busy Monday, making some small roster moves to shake things up amid Buffalo's current skid.
Sabres general manager Jason Botterill making his second move of the day as he has acquired forward Scott Wilson from the
Detroit Red Wings.
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
Buffalo Sabres
✔
@BuffaloSabres
TRADE: We've acquired forward Scott Wilson from @DetroitRedWings in exchange for our 5th round pick in the 2019
#NHLDraft.
12:46 PM - Dec 4, 2017
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In return, the Sabres send a 2019 5th round pick back to Detroit.
“We are very happy to add Scott to our roster,” Botterill said in a team statement. “Scott is a hard-working, young player that
will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice.”
Wilson has produced no points in 17 games for the Red Wings this season after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins
on October 21st. Last year in Pittsburgh, he played 78 games and finished with eight goals and 18 assists. In addition, Wilson
had six points in 20 playoff games on Pittsburgh's way to winning the Stanley Cup.
Wilson is likely to fit is as a depth forward with the Sabres. Botterill is very familiar with Wilson from his time in Pittsburgh
with the Penguins and with their AHL affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Sabres are next in action Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. It remains to be seen whether Wilson will
make his debut with the Sabres.
Luukkonen selected to Finland's World Junior preliminary roster
The Sabres' second round pick in 2017 is one of three goalies on the roster
WGR550
BRAYTON WILSON
DECEMBER 04, 2017
With the IIHF World Junior Championship just a few weeks away, the 10 nations competing will start to put together their
preliminary roster before the start of the tournament on December 26th in Buffalo.
Finland is the first team to have announced their preliminary roster of 28 players, and Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka
Luukkonen is one of three goalies listed for their training camp. If Luukkonen makes the final 23-man roster, it will be the
first time in his career that he will compete at the Under-20 tournament.
Luukkonen, 18, has posted some decent numbers this season playing with LeKi in Mestis, Finland's second-tier professional
league. In 15 games played this season, Luukkonen has posted a 2.93 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
Buffalo's second round pick (54th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft already has quite the track record with Finland at the
international level. Luukkonen has played in the last two IIHF Under-18 World Championships for Finland, posting a 2.45
goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in nine combined games. In 2016, Luukkonen led Finland to a gold medal
run over the United States at the tournament held in Grand Forks, North Dakota. This past year in Slovakia, Luukkonen and
the Finns were upended by the Americans in the gold medal game.
Luukkonen is one of three new goalies on the roster from last year's Finnish team. He will compete for game action with 19-
year old Niilo Halonen and 18-year old Lassi Lehtinen. Luukkonen is the only goalie who was drafted by a NHL team.
In the Under-20 tournament last season in Canada, Finland ended up in the relegation round against Latvia after winning gold
at the World Juniors in 2016 on home soil. Finland faced some uncharacteristic losses in group play to teams like Denmark
and the Czech Republic, but managed to remain in the top division by relegating Latvia to Division I.
Finland will compete in Group A this year, which also contains the United States, Canada, Denmark and Slovakia. Russia,
Sweden, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Belarus will compete in Group B.
Here is the complete 28-man preliminary roster for Finland:
Goalies:
1 - Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres)
30 - Lassi Lehtinen
31 - Niilo Halonen
Defense:
2 - Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)*
4 - Robin Salo (New York Islanders)
5 - Eemeli Rasanen
6 - Juuso Valimaki (Calgary Flames)*
7 - Olli Juolevi (Vancouver Canucks)*
23 - Urho Vaakanainen (Boston Bruins)*
25 - Roope Laavainen (Chicago Blackhawks)
28 - Henri Jokiharju (Chicago Blackhawks)
36 - Kasper Kotkansalo (Detroit Red Wings)
Forwards:
3 - Juha Jaaska
9 - Janne Kuokkanen (Carolina Hurricanes)*
10 - Jerry Turkulainen
12 - Otto Koivula (New York Islanders)*
13 - Kristian Vesalainen (Winnipeg Jets)*
15 - Joona Koppanen (Boston Bruins)
18 - Sami Moilanen
19 - Eetu Tuulola (Calgary Flames)
20 - Eeli Tolvanen (Nashville Predators)*
21 - Markus Nurmi (Ottawa Senators)
22 - Aapeli Rasanen (Edmonton Oilers)*
29 - Eetu Luostarinen (Carolina Hurricanes)
32 - Aleksi Heponiemi (Florida Panthers)
33 - Jere Innala
34 - Rasmus Kupari (2018 Draft Eligible)
Sabres call up Rodrigues from Rochester
To make room, the Sabres send Kyle Criscuolo back to Rochester
WGR550
DECEMBER 04, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres have called up forward Evan Rodrigues from the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League.
Rodrigues has five goals and five assists in eight games for Rochester since returning from a broken hand suffered in the
preseason. Rodrigues looked poised to make the Sabres out of training camp before his injury, and has now gotten some good
games in with the Amerks since his return. In 32 NHL games with the Sabres, Rodrigues has five goals and three assists.
In order to make room for Rodrigues, the Sabres have sent forward Kyle Criscuolo down to Rochester. Criscuolo played in
eight games for the Sabres, but did not register a point in his time in Buffalo. Criscuolo has five goals and six assists in 14
games with the Amerks this season.
Waiving Matt Moulson sends strong message to Sabres
Olean Times Herald
Bill Hoppe
Dec. 5, 2017
BUFFALO – The news the Sabres would waive Matt Moulson hit Sabres winger Kyle Okposo hard.
Okposo spoke emotionally and looked shaken discussing the likely end to his best friend’s long Sabres career. Moulson and
Okposo became close years ago as New York Islanders teammates. They’re even godfathers to each other’s children.
“It’s tough when you lose a guy like that, he’s been my best friend for a while,” Okposo said Monday morning inside
KeyBank Center. “He means a lot to me, it’s tough news. But at the same time, it’s a business, he knows that better than
anybody.”
It’s a business the hapless Sabres have been failing at for years.
This season, expected to be a year of growth with a new coach and general manager, they rank dead last in the NHL with 16
points. They’ve lost four straight games and 11 of the last 12 entering Tueday’s road tilt against the Colorado Avalanche.
They need to make moves. Moulson going first wasn’t surprising. The graying winger, 34, has zero points and a minus-9
rating in 14 games this season.
To Okposo, removing a popular veteran sends a strong message to the bottom-feeding team.
“Get your (expletive) together,” Okposo said. “I don’t know, win some games. That’s what happens in this business, if you
don’t win games, if you don’t have results, good people pay the price for it, myself included.
“I got to pick my game up, everybody’s got to pick their game up, we got to find ways to win. We’re in a results business,
business of winning.”
Sabres coach Phil Housley said he had been discussing the move with GM Jason Botterill for two weeks. As the Sabres
practiced without Moulson on Monday morning, the team issued a one-sentence press release saying he would be waived at
noon “for the purpose of an assignment.”
“The direction that our team is going, we have to make roster spots and try to push some other buttons and try to get some
internal competition within our team,” Housley said.
Still, waiving Moulson was difficult. Housley said the Sabres “let a good person go.”
“Under the circumstances that we’re in, I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of guys affected with the decision, maybe
emotionally, maybe it’s motivationally,” he said.
Expect more moves as Botterill remakes the team and fixes mistakes from the previous regime. Shortly after waiving
Moulson, the Sabres acquired forward Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red Wings.
Moulson’s popularity possibly helped him stick around longer. The three-time 30-goal scorer mostly struggled after former
GM Tim Murray awarded him a five-year, $25 million contract July 1, 2014.
Moulson scored 35 goals in 253 games under the deal. In his career season, 2011-12, he scored 36 goals for the Islanders.
After an eight-goal season in 2015-16, Moulson rebounded with 14 goals a year ago, although he scored 11 times on the
power play.
The Sabres had been scratching Moulson, whose lack of speed hurt him, and playing him sparingly on the fourth line. He
played two final games before sitting out Saturday’s 5-1 loss in Pittsburgh.
If Moulson clears waivers today, the Sabres can trim $1.025 million from the salary cap, according to capfriendly.com.
They’ll likely assign him to the Rochester Americans. He could have his final season bought out following the year.
How did Moulson handle a difficult situation this season?
“Like a pro,” Okposo said. “I think you would go around and ask every single guy in this locker room (and) they don’t have
one bad thing to say about Matt Moulson. The way he is as a person and the way that he carried himself at the rink every day
through a very tough situation over the past few years, he’s a good man.”
Moulson invited Sabres center Jack Eichel to live with his family as a teenage rookie two years ago.
“It’s tough, he’s a good buddy,” Eichel said. “I owe a lot to him. He’s been there for me since the day I was drafted.
Obviously, I’ve become very close with Matt, his family, his wife, his two kids. They’ve basically been like family to me.
“I feel for him, one of the best guys you can play with. I don’t think there’s a bad word to be said about him.”
Moulson hasn’t played in the AHL since 2008-09, when the Los Angeles Kings sent him to the Manchester Monarchs. After
the Islanders signed him to a two-way contract in July 2009, he quickly morphed into one of the league’s top scorers,
compiling 97 goals over a three-year stretch.
The Sabres acquired Moulson in early 2013-14 before dealing him to the Minnesota Wild. They re-signed him months later.
Sabres notes: Scott Wilson has winning background
Olean Times Herald
Bill Hoppe
Dec. 4, 2017
BUFFALO – On paper, the Sabres acquired a third- or fourth-line forward with 13 goals and 32 points in 123 career NHL
games. But in Scott Wilson, they have a player who developed in a winning culture and raised the Stanley Cup six months
ago.
For a team currently dead last in the NHL, that means something.
Shortly after the Sabres waived Matt Moulson on Monday, general manager Jason Botterill sent the Detroit Red Wings a
2019 fifth-round pick for Wilson.
Botterill knows Wilson from their days together with the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins traded Wilson, 25, to the Red Wings on Oct. 21. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound Wilson has zero points in 20 total
games this season. He played 17 contests with Detroit.
Last season, his first full NHL campaign, he compiled eight goals and 26 points in 78 games and another three goals and six
points in 20 playoffs contests. He also played 26 regular-season games before Pittsburgh won the Cup in 2016.
“We are happy to add Scott to our roster,” Botterill said in a statement. “Scott is a hardworking young player that will be a
great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice.”
xxx
Before flying to Colorado for Tuesday’s tilt against the Avalanche, the Sabres recalled forward Evan Rodrigues from the
Rochester Americans and sent center Kyle Criscuolo to back to the AHL.
In the midst of a strong training camp, Rodrigues, 24, broke his hand during a Sept. 22 preseason game in Toronto.
“It’s the nature of the game,” Rodrigues said. “When those things happen, that’s where you show your resiliency. I did
everything I could to get back to where I was in camp. I feel like I’m there now.”
Rodrigues quickly caught fire following his Nov. 17 season debut, compiling five goals and 10 points in eight AHL games.
xxx
Sabres coach Phil Housley said defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (flu) probably wouldn’t accompany the Sabres to Colorado.
Sabres place Matt Moulson on waivers
WKBW
Matt Bove
Dec. 4, 2017
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - Matt Moulson may have played his last game with the Buffalo Sabres. On Monday the team
announced that Moulson has been waived for purpose of assignment.
If unclaimed, Moulson will contractually be obligated to report to the Rochester Americans in the AHL.
Matthew Bové
✔
@Matt_Bove
Matt Moulson has been waived #Sabres
10:04 AM - Dec 4, 2017
15 15 Replies 27 27 Retweets 100 100 likes
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Moulson, 34, appeared in 14 games with the Sabres this season, failing to register a point. In 2014-2015, Moulson signed a
five-year, $25 million contract with the Sabres. Moulson is set to become an unrestricted free-agent after the 2018-2019
season.
Matthew Bové
✔
@Matt_Bove
Jack Eichel lived with Matt Moulson during his rookie season. Over the years they've grown close, making today's news
tough for the #Sabres assistant captain.
11:28 AM - Dec 4, 2017
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Bove's take:
Although this is a surprise, it's not shocking. It's appeared the writing has been on the wall for years, with Moulson in and out
of the lineup as a healthy scratch.
Since returning to Buffalo it's become more and more apparent that the 34-year-old winger has lost a step. Moulson's best
season statistically came in his return to Buffalo in 2014, scoring 41 points in 77 games. Since Moulson has posted 53 points
in 176 games.
I'd be shocked if Moulson is claimed, making Rochester the most likely destination. Obviously, the Sabres won't be thrilled
paying millions to a guy in Rochester, making the possibility that he's bought out after the season very likely.
Moulson has been an important veteran voice in the locker room and is liked by his teammates. But this move makes sense,
especially for a team that could use a spark from some of the younger players in the organization.
Matthew Bové
✔
@Matt_Bove
.@BuffNewsVogl asked Phil Housley if he discussed the move with GM Jason Botterill. Of the things Housley said this
morning, this response stood out #Sabres
11:38 AM - Dec 4, 2017
Sabres acquire two-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Wilson
WKBW
Matt Bove
Dec. 4, 2017
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) - On Monday the Buffalo Sabres announced that the team has acquired forward Scott Wilson
from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2019 fifth round pick.
Matthew Bové
✔
@Matt_Bove
We have a trade. #Sabres acquire Scott Wilson from DET in exchange for a 5th round pick.
12:52 PM - Dec 4, 2017
4 4 Replies 6 6 Retweets 17 17 likes
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“We are very happy to add Scott to our roster,” Sabres GM Jason Botterill said. “Scott is a hard-working, young player that
will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice.”
Wilson, 25, spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins but was traded to the Red Wings earlier this season. In 123
games Wilson has scored 13 goals and tallied 19 assists (32 points). Three goals and three assists came in the 2016-2017
Penguins Stanley Cup run, where Wilson appeared in 20 playoff games.
Bove's take:
Wilson is a player Jason Botterill is all too familiar with. Wilson was drafted in seventh round of the 2011 NHL Draft by
Botterill and the Penguins. He spent several years going back and forth from the AHL to the NHL.
This isn't a trade to fix this roster, it's a move to try and fill out the lineup with a player who has won and is willing to
compete for a job.
There's a reason Wilson appeared in 20 games with the Penguins during their most recent Stanley Cup run. If he's good
enough for the Penguins in the playoffs, he's worth a look for the worst team in the NHL, plain and simple. If it doesn't work
out it only cost the Sabres a fifth-round pick.
Joe Yerdon
@JoeYerdon
The #Sabres sum-up today is:
OUT: Criscuolo, Moulson
IN: Rodrigues, Scott Wilson
12:53 PM - Dec 4, 2017
Sabres waive veteran Matt Moulson, trade for Scott Wilson
Moulson had yet to score for the Sabres so far this season.
WIV
By Shannon Shepherd, News 4 Sports
Dec. 4, 2017
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – In a move that shook the locker room up, the Sabres have waived veteran forward Matt
Moulson, with the intention to send him to the AHL.
Moulson has been struggling this season, playing in just 14 games as he was a healthy scratch many nights. He has no goals
or assists on the year.
“I don’t know if it is a message,” Sabres head coach Phil Housley said. “It is just a difficult decision. But, with the position
we are in we have to make some decisions about our team and our lineup.”
Following Monday’s practice Jack Eichel was visibly upset about the move. He was roommates with Moulson his rookie
season.
“It is tough, he is a good buddy,” Eichel stood at his locker and said. “I owe a lot to him. He has been there for me since the
day I was drafted and I have become very close with Matt and his family and his wife and his two kids. They have been like
family to me. I feel for him. He is one of the best guys you can play with and I don’t think there is a bad word to be said
about him.”
The 10-year NHL vet has 176 goals in his career, and scored 14 last season for the blue and gold.
TRADE FOR WILSON
The release of Moulson wasn’t the only transaction the Sabres made Monday. They traded a fifth round pick in the 2019
NHL Draft to Detroit for left-handed forward Scott Wilson.
Wilson had been struggling for the Red Wings, and has yet to net a point on the 2017-18 season.
Wilson has playoff hockey experience, winning a Stanley Cup with the Penguins last season.
The Sabres visit the Avalanche Tuesday night.
Sabres acquire LW Wilson from Red Wings
Sport Xchange
Dec. 4, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres acquired left wing Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red Wings on Monday in exchange for a fifth-round
pick in the 2019 NHL draft, the teams announced.
Wilson failed to record a point while playing in 17 games this season with Detroit, which acquired the 25-year-old Ontario
native from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 21. Wilson also did not notch a point in three games with the Penguins this
season.
He recorded eight goals and 18 assists in 78 games in 2016-17 with Penguins. He also appeared in 20 playoffs games last
season for the Penguins, helping the club to its second consecutive Stanley Cup title.
"We are very happy to add Scott to our roster," Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said. "Scott is a hard-working, young
player that will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup champion, his experience will be an asset both on and
off the ice."
Wilson has totaled 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) and 44 penalty minutes in 123 career NHL games with the Penguins and
Red Wings
Sabres recall F Rodrigues
Sports Xchange
Dec. 4, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres recalled forward Evan Rodrigues from the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League on
Monday.
Rodrigues, 24, will join the Sabres for his first recall of the season after appearing in 30 games with the team during his
second professional season in 2016-17 and recording six points (four goals, two assists).
The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Toronto native has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in eight AHL games with Rochester this
season.
In a corresponding move, the Sabres assigned forward Kyle Criscuolo to Rochester. Criscuolo, 25, had no points in eight
games during his first appearances in the NHL.
The Sabres also announced that forward Matt Moulson was placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment. If unclaimed,
the 34-year-old Moulson will report to the Sabres' AHL affiliate. He appeared in 14 games this season and did not register a
point
Sabres place struggling Matt Moulson on waivers
NBCSports
By Joey Alfieri
Dec 4, 2017
The Buffalo Sabres have reportedly been trying to part ways with veteran forward Matt Moulson, but they haven’t found any
takers.
On Monday, the team announced that they’ll be placing him on waivers with the purpose of assigning him to the minors.
When you take a quick look at Moulson’s contract, it’s easy to see why other teams weren’t beating down the door to acquire
him via trade. The 34-year-old has one year remaining (after this season) on his contract at a cap hit of $5 million.
The fact that he has a 12-team no-trade list didn’t make this situation any easier for the player or the team.
Darren Dreger
✔
@DarrenDreger
Moulson was willing to expand list and Buffalo was willing to eat some of the salary. Unfortunately, no interest at this time.
https://twitter.com/thefourthperiod/status/937705526095482882 …
10:46 AM - Dec 4, 2017
25 25 Replies 71 71 Retweets 142 142 likes
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Since signing the five-year, $25 million contract with the Sabres on July 1st, 2014, Moulson’s offensive totals have been
beyond disappointing.
He went from 13 goals and 41 points in 2014-15, to eight goals and 21 points in 2015-16, to 14 goals and 32 points last
season. This year, he has no points and a minus-9 rating in 14 contests.
“Yeah, I think it’s hard to (ignore what people are saying) sometimes. But I think once you start worrying about that, then
you’ve got a little more problems than just hockey,” Moulson told the Buffalo News in November. “I think you’re at home
thinking about a lot of things. Obviously you want to do well. I think any athlete that’s competitive wants to do well in a team
environment and personally.
“Once you start listening to everything else, I think that comes back to just knowing yourself and what you do. I think a lot of
people say things that don’t know what I do on a daily basis as a person. I don’t really let that bother me. I think what my
family thinks of me is probably the most important.”
The only way Buffalo will be able to get rid of his contract is if they eat a portion of his salary. Also, a team will have to
believe Moulson can help them on the man-advantage (11 of his 14 goals were scored on the power play last season).
Sabres' Scott Wilson: Shipped to Buffalo
by RotoWire Staff
CBS Sports
Wilson was traded from Detroit in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick Monday.
The Sabres have scored just one goal over their last four games and are looking for solutions wherever they think they might
find them. While Wilson enjoyed an eight-goal, 26-point campaign in 2016-17, he's without a single point in the 20 games
he's played this season. Wilson may be offered additional opportunities with Buffalo, but not enough to give him any
worthwhile fantasy value.
In an effort to foster competition, Sabres shake up personnel at forward
Team recalls Rodrigues, acquires Wilson from Detroit
by Jourdon LaBarber
Sabres.com
Dec. 4, 2017
Phil Housley has warned as of late that, as the Buffalo Sabres struggle, changes will continue to be made to the lineup. One
such move was made Monday, when the team placed forward Matt Moulson on waivers with the intention of reassigning him
to Rochester should he clear.
Moulson, 34, has played 297 games in his four-plus seasons with the Sabres. He had been held scoreless in 14 games so far
this season while alternating in and out of the lineup.
"With the position we're in, we've got to make some difficult decisions about our team and our lineup," Housley said.
"Sometimes they're tough decisions. I think we need to focus as a group on our own game as an individual but certainly these
are the tough ones that you have to make in this business."
Housley said the decision to waive Moulson was made after multiple conversations with general manger Jason Botterill in an
effort to foster more internal competition for roster spots. The Sabres recalled Hudson Fasching on Saturday and Evan
Rodrigues on Monday, with Kyle Criscuolo assigned to Rochester in a corresponding move.
Following practice, the Sabres added additional forward depth with the acquisition of Scott Wilson from the Detroit Red
Wings in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2019.
The assignment of Moulson is significant due both to his veteran status and his close relationship to several players in the
Buffalo dressing room. Kyle Okposo's history with Moulson dates back to their time together with the Islanders, and the two
are godparents to each other's children.
"It's tough when you lose a guy like that," Okposo said. "He's been my best friend for a while. He means a lot to me so it's
tough news. At the same time, it's a business. He knows that better than anybody and I know that. But in saying that, it's
tough personally, for sure."
Jack Eichel lived with Moulson and his family during his rookie season of 2015-16, an arrangement made after Moulson
offered to help ease Eichel into life as a pro hockey player.
"I owe a lot to him," Eichel said. "He's been there for me since the day I was drafted. Obviously, I've become very close with
Matt, his family, his wife, his two kids. They've basically been like family to me. I feel for him, one of the best guys you can
play with. I don't think there's a bad word to be said about him."
Housley said it's up to players to read into the decision whichever way they want, and admitted that he expected some players
to react emotionally and perhaps use it as motivation. Okposo was blunt when asked what message he thought the move sent
to the room.
"Get your s--- together? I don't know, we've got to win some games," he said. "That's what happens in this business. If you
don't win games, if you don't get results, good people pay the price for it. Myself included, I've got to pick my game up.
Everybody's got to pick their games up.
"We've got to find ways to win. It's a results business. We're in the business of winning and we're not doing that right now, so
there's going to be some changes."
The acquisition of Wilson, 25, gives the Sabres a forward with whom Botterill has plenty of familiarity, having had him as
member of the Penguins organization for parts of four seasons. The UMass-Lowell graduate scored 26 points (8+18) in 78
games for Pittsburgh last season and 77 points (41+36) in 90 career AHL games with Pittsburgh's affiliate in Wilkes-
Barre/Scranton.
Wilson began this season with the Penguins, but was acquired by Detroit in a trade on Oct. 21.
"We are very happy to add Scott to our roster," Botterill said in a press release. "Scott is a hard-working, young player that
will be a great fit for our club. As a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, his experience will be an asset both on and off the ice."
Rodrigues, meanwhile, seemed well on his way to earning a spot in Buffalo out of training camp until a hand injury brought
his preseason to a premature end. Rodrigues made his NHL debut last season and proved to be a serviceable center, scoring
six points (4+2) in 30 NHL games.
He worked over the summer to improve his skating and, prior to sustaining his injury, believed he had put himself in position
to make the NHL roster. Once he went down, however, he knew a return to Rochester was likely in his future.
Rodrigues did indeed return to Rochester upon returning to health, and has since scored five goals and five assists for 10
points in eight games. His average of 1.25 points per game leads the Amerks.
"It's hockey," Rodrigues said. "Those things happen and you have to show resiliency. You have to believe in yourself and
know that if you do whatever you can while you're hurt then you'll get back here, and that's what I tried to do while I was
injured and while I was in Rochester. I gave it all I had."
Rodrigues centered a line with Jordan Nolan and Kyle Okposo on Monday. Those two wingers previously found success with
Jacob Josefson as their center, which they attributed to Josefson's on-ice smarts. Similarly, Rodrigues offers a combination of
speed, IQ and positional awareness.
"He makes a difference," Housley said. "You can see right now with his pucks skills and his vision, hockey IQ. He can make
plays."
What all of Monday's moves have in common is the potential to inject some life into a team that's lost 11 of its last 12 games,
both on the ice and off of it. Fasching brought a boost with his net-front presence on Saturday, and Rodrigues aims to do the
same simply through hard work.
"Add to the pace, add some work ethic, be hard on pucks and when the opportunity comes to showcase my offensive ability,
I'll do that," he said. "But I'm going to go out, work as hard as I can to start and form there I'll just let my talent work itself
out."
Monday's practice
Nathan Beaulieu did not practice after missing the entirety of the third period on Saturday due to an illness. Housley said that
Beaulieu will not travel with the team to Colorado for the start of their road trip, but did not rule out the possibility of him
joining the Sabres at some point this week.
Here's how the full lineup looked at practice, including a promotion for Fasching:
9 Evander Kane - 15 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville
67 Benoit Pouliot - 90 Ryan O'Reilly - 24 Hudson Fasching
17 Jordan Nolan - 71 Evan Rodrigues - 21 Kyle Okposo
28 Zemgus Girgensons - 22 Johan Larsson - 23 Sam Reinhart
6 Marco Scandella - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
19 Jake McCabe - 47 Zach Bogosian
4 Josh Gorges - 93 Victor Antipin
41 Justin Falk
40 Robin Lehner
31 Chad Johnson
Sharpen Up: December 4, 2017
by Chris Ryndak
Sabres.com
December 4th, 2017
After dropping both games in their home-and-home set against the Pegnuins over the weekend, the Buffalo Sabres will return
to practice today. They'll then head out to Colorado for a three-game road trip that will include games against the Avalanche,
Blackhawks and Blues.
Here's what you need to know.
Evan Rodrigues is back up with the Sabres now that he's fully recovered from a hand injury. With the Amerks this year, he
has 10 points (5+5) in eight AHL games this season and leads all Rochester skaters with 1.25 points per game.
In a corresponding move, the Sabres have assigned forward Kyle Criscuolo to Rochester.
Buffalo received some extra help from Rochester over the weekend.
Sabres lose to Penguins, 5-1
04:24 • December 2nd, 2017
Hudson Fasching, recalled Saturday morning, made his season debut in Pittsburgh. He skated 10:57 and registered three hits.
He also took a goaltender interference penalty in the first period.
Phil Housley Postgame (12/2/17)
03:40 • December 3rd, 2017
"I really liked his game. He showed some speed, hungry to get to the net," Housley said. "I wish he wouldn't have taken that
first penalty. We certainly got on our heels after all those penalties in the first period but then we got it back. We settled into
the game. But obviously he's getting to the net hard and he's playing really well down low in the offensive zone and being
hard to play against. It's a good sign."
Zach Bogosian Postgame (12/2/17)
01:55 • December 3rd, 2017
Zach Bogosian, after missing the first 25 games with a lower-body injury, played in both games over the weekend. He
recorded four shots on goal (and attempted three more) on Friday and put another two shots on net Saturday night.
"It felt nice to be back. It's tough to sit out the time that I did. It's tough to see the team go through what we're going through,"
Bogosian said. "Up in the press box, it's tough to see that. You want to be part of the team moving forward and I'm just trying
to do my part to try to help and do whatever I can now that I'm back in the lineup."
Housley has been impressed with the intensity Bogosian has brought, including a fight with Penguins tough guy Ryan Reeves
in the first period after Reeves laid a big hit on Jake McCabe behind the Buffalo net.
"He's been our best defenseman for two nights," Housley said. "After missing 25 games, stepping in like this and providing
energy and stepping up to the plate tonight against Reeves, who's probably one of the toughest guys in the league says a lot
about him. Just trying to provide a boost and providing energy for our team was a terrific job on his part."
Jason Pominville Postgame
02:30 • December 3rd, 2017
Jack Eichel Postgame (12/2/17)
03:22 • December 3rd, 2017
Coming up
We'll have full practice coverage today and have all of the lineup news for you before the team heads out to Denver.